House Bill (HB) 774 recently was signed by North Carolina Governor Ray Cooper and aims to broaden the situations in which individuals convicted of certain crimes may petition for a certificate of relief. The bill, which was unanimously passed, will help reduce the risks employers may face when hiring persons with criminal convictions. Under the new legislation, certificates are made available to individuals who have been convicted of no more than three Class H or I felonies and any misdemeanors. The law also insulates employers from liability from most employment-related negligence claims when hiring or retaining a person with a certificate of relief, but only if the employer relied on the certificate of relief in hiring or retaining the person.
